Now I know why I always longed for a sister growing up rather than being stuck in the middle of two brothers. Recent research out of Brigham Young University suggests that having a sister provides a child with a form of psychological immunity. Having a sister tends to protect one from a host of emotional problems. Sibling relationships matter. In fact, they go a long way in forming the kinds of pro social behaviors we want to see develop in our kids such as kindness and generosity. Conflictual sibling relationships can be troubling. While most of us chalk up all sibling conflict as normal or developmental these researchers suggest that siblings who are hostile toward one another tend to portray hostility and aggressiveness in other relationships.
